Earthquake kills at least 150, flattens buildings

A powerful earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale rocked central Italy early on Monday, killing more than 150 people, according to rescue workers. Rescuers combed through the debris of collapsed buildings, desperately seeking survivors.Rescue workers desperately combed through the rubble trying to reach trapped survivors after a quake struck the university town of L'Aquila around 3:30 am local time on Monday, killing at least 150, according to hospital sources, and causing residents to flee in the dead of night.Tremors could be felt in the Italian capital of Rome more than 80 kilometers away.Rubble from collapsed buildings – including old churches – in the historic town blocked many streets. A number of people are believed to be buried in the debris and officials fear the death toll could rise.Rescue workers were searching through the rubble and they were aided by local residents who had come out to help the rescue mission.“What we don’t really know so far is what has happened in the small villages around this town in this mountainous region,” said Masciarelli. “There are a lot of places that are quite remote, bridges have fallen, so it’s very difficult to get information from these places.”A medieval town of about 60,000 inhabitants, L’Aquila is a popular tourist destination dotted with picturesque Romanesque and Renaissance churches. Local authorities said thousands have fled their homes as officials were still calculating the material damage from the quake.